As the 2025 Miami Open, the fourth WTA 1000 event of the year, swings into action, the focus shifts towards the defending champions and their fight to hold onto their rankings. This Sunshine Double tournament marks a critical period for players who made their mark in the 2024 edition, as they face the challenge of defending a significant number of points.
Danielle Collins, the American tennis star who made headlines with her maiden WTA 1000 title victory in Miami last year, finds herself in a precarious position. Currently positioned at 15th in the official WTA Rankings, Collins is at risk of sliding down the ladder if she doesn’t perform well in Florida. The Live Rankings have her at No. 22, due to the impending drop of 1,000 points as the defending champion.
In terms of how the Miami Open rating points are distributed, a first-round appearance guarantees at least 10 points. A victory at this stage takes the player’s total to 35. The stakes rise as the tournament progresses, with the champion standing to gain a whopping 1,000 points.
The spotlight also turns to other big names in the tournament, who face the pressure of defending their previous performance. Collins’ defeat of Elena Rybakina in the 2024 final means that the 2022 Wimbledon winner is set to lose 650 points. Furthermore, top seeds Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff, none of whom advanced beyond the fourth round last year, also face a similar challenge.
Victoria Azarenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova, the semi-finalists from last year, start their campaign with a deficit of 390 points. Azarenka, a former world No. 1, is projected to drop to No. 47 in the Live Rankings, which could severely impact her position if she doesn’t mimic her run from the previous year.
Maria Sakkari’s situation is also precarious, with a 22-place slump to No. 51 following the Indian Wells Open. She is set to lose another 205 points in Miami, which could plummet her place to No. 69 in the unofficial charts.
In contrast, current world No. 1 Sabalenka is in a better position since she lost in the third round in 2024 and is only defending 65 points. Similar is the case with Swiatek and Gauff, who will drop 120 points as they lost a round later.
Emerging tennis sensation, teenager Mirra Andreeva, holds a unique position as she didn’t participate in 2024 and thus has no points to defend. Currently at No. 6 in the rankings, she sees a potential rise with Madison Keys, ranked No. 5, dropping 120 points and Andreeva gaining 10 for her first-round bye.
Emma Raducanu, like Andreeva, didn’t participate last year and thus has no points to defend. However, she has already gained 10 points for being in the main draw and will aim to increase her tally with a few victories.
Finally, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who reached the fourth round in 2024, has already begun her 2025 campaign with a win against Yuliia Starodubtseva. Despite a 30-point deficit, she looks to climb the ladder and defend her ranking.
As the Miami Open unfolds, it will be intriguing to watch how these top players combat the pressure to defend their points, and how this could potentially reshuffle the rankings. The stakes are high, and the competition fierce, making this edition of the tournament a must-watch for every tennis enthusiast.